Adjustable injector razor



April 14, 1964 J. A. CROWN ADJUSTABLE INJECTOR RAZOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 29, 1962 April 4, 1964 J. A. CROWN 7 3,128,551

ADJUSTABLE INJECTOR RAZOR Filed March 29, 1962 2 ets-Shee 2 United States Patent Ofifice 6 3,128,551 Patented Apr. 14, 1964 3,128,551 ADJUSTABLE INJECTOR RAZOR James A. Crown, Harrisonburg, Va., assignor to Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Virginia Filed Mar. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 183,617 9 Claims. (Cl. 30-63) The invention is concerned with a single edge blade injector razor and particularly a razor of that type having an improved guard or soap bar arrangement and means for supporting and adjusting it to vary the shave angle and clearance.

In accordance with the arrangement and principles of the invention a bridge member which carries the guard is mounted to pivot about an axis which is located close to the inner surface of the blade and midway between the cutting edge and the back edge of the blade. A cam adjusting means operates on a relatively long arm of the bridge member extending away from the blade along the handle. The lever arm of the bridge from the axis of rotation of the bridge to the cam means is greater than the distance of the guard on the bridge from the axis and very fine adjustments of the shave angle are obtained by substantial movement of the cam adjusting means which allows maximum manufacturing tolerances.

The bridge member is maintained in position by a single spring element which performs the double function of holding the bridge in appropriate position with one portion of the bridge engaging against the blade and another portion serving to urge the bridge member against the cam adjusting means. The spring is mounted under a cover and the arrangement is such that the spring produces small and controlled forces against the cam and razor blade. The whole assembly comprises a simple arrangement of few parts considering the functions obtained.

Other features and advantages will be made apparent from a consideration of an illustrative embodiment and accordingly reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an edge or side View of the complete assembled razor;

FIG. 2 is a plan View looking in the general direction of the arrow 2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the head portion and operating mechanism taken on a plane through substan tially the axis of the razor;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view with the various parts contained in the head of the razor shown in perspective;

FIG. 5 is a detail perspective view of the bridge member which is also shown in FIG. 4 in a different position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of a blade cartridge adapted to be employed in connection with the injector razor shown; and

FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view comprising a portion of FIG. 3 but showing the injector cartridge inserted in the razor head.

The razor is of the injector type adapted to receive a blade from an injector cartridge in a manner generally similar to that shown in various prior art patents such as the patents to Butlin 2,674,036 and 2,701,910. The present razor includes a handle portion and a head portion indicated generally at 10 and 11 respectively. The head 11 is notched back at 11a and preferably is beveled at its outer face at 11b for blade exposure. The handle includes a long part 12 which commonly may be made of metal, the part 12 extending up into the head portion which is arranged at an angle to the handle, and terminates in a cap portion 13 arranged at an oblique angle to the handle, that is at some angle less than The handle is preferably enlarged and shaped to fit comfortably the hand of the user as by means of member 14 suitably attached to the back of handle member 12. The part 14 may be suitably decorated such as by the serrations indicated at 15.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4 various operative parts are mounted in the head 11. These include a blade spring 20, a key retainer 21, a bridge member 22, a bridge spring 23 and a bridge housing or cover 24. The housing member 24 extends down into the handle as indicated at 25 and is suitably secured thereto as by welding or other means. The bridge member 22 engages against and holds the blade 26 against a supporting platform provided by the cap member 13.

The shape of the blade spring 20 is best shown in FIG. 4. It includes extensions 30 and 31 adapted to rest in the rectangular groove 32 of the head portion 11, and a finger 33 arranged to engage under the back edge of the blade 26 and urge it outwardly into engagement with the hook members 35 integral with the cap 13. In assembling the razor the spring is secured in the groove 32 by a suitable means such as by spot welding at the dimple 20a formed in the extension 30. Located over the spring member 20 is the key retainer 21 shown in detail in FIG. 4. The rear portion 36 rests on the surface 37 of the head portion 11 and in the complete assembly is welded thereto at the welding dimples 36a. The forward part, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, includes a downturned flange 38 which rests on the ledge 39 of the head portion. The key retainer 21 has an opening 40 through which extends the finger 33 of the blade spring 20. The member 21 has upstanding fingers 41 between which is mounted the bridge member 22 which will now be described in more detail.

The bridge member is generally of a right-angle shape in longitudinal section and includes a middle arcuate portion 50, a guard or soap bar portion 51 and a tapered arm portion 52 extending rearwardly away from the blade in the direction of the handle. The guard portion is provided with an open slot 53.

Mounted over the bridge member 22 is the housing or cover 24 having side downwardly extending flanges 55. Within the housing 24 is located the spring means 23 which in the present embodiment of the razor comprises a single continuous piece of elastic wire. The spring means is suitably secured to and supported by the cover 24 as shown in FIG. 4. Lugs or other suitable formations 56 and 57 clamp the wire to the under surface of the housing 24. The wire is so shaped, and the fastening means 56 is so located, that the portion 58 of the spring engages against the inner surface of the arcuate portion 50 of the bridge member. The opposite end of the spring 23 comprises an extension or finger 59 normally biased downwardly into the engagement with the upper surface of the bridge member as indicated in FIG. 3 It will be seen therefore that the single spring element 23 serves the double function of urging the bridge member into engagement with the blade 26 which in turn is urged against the inner face of the cap 13, and the spring also urges the arm 52 extending to the right in FIG. 3 into engagement with cam means which will now be described.

Mounted within an opening in the handle or head portion of the razor is a manually rotatable button 60 the button having a cylindrical portion 61 of enlarged size to serve as a bearing support and restrain the button from outward movement. The upper face of the button 60 is provided with a cam member 62 of progressively increasing height. The cam portion 62 fits into an opening 63 formed in the key retainer 21. Preferably means is provided to limit the angle of rotation of the button such as by means of the radial finger 64 extending into the opening 63 of the key retainer.

The arm 52 of the bridge member 22 is provided with a contact part adapted to engage the upper surface of the cam 62 being urged into contact by the spring 23 as heretofore described. The contact part may vary in detail construction and may comprise a finger or formation integral with the arm 52 adapted to contact cam 62 directly, or as in the present form, the arm 52 may be provided with a contact insert 70 shown in detail in the upper portion of FIG. 4. In the specific form disclosed this insert is preferably of plastic material and includes an upper boss portion 71 which has a saw cut '72 therein and an upper annular rib 73 whereby the insert may be snapped into the opening 74 of the bridge member 22. The insert 70 also has an upwardly projecting pin 75 operative in the arc-shaped portion 76 of the opening 74 in the bridge member. In the initial assembly of the razor the insert '70 may be rotatably adjusted in the bridge member 22 within the limits of movement permitted for the pin 75 in the arc-shaped opening 76. If necessary suitable means, as by riveting or peaning, may be employed to secure the insert in its adjusted position. The feature just described enables the zero or extreme settings of the bridge member to be selected whereby the button 60 operates in the desired range.

By means of the button 60 and the related mechanism heretofore described the position of the guard portion 51 of the bridge member may be adjusted to provide different shaving angles or clearances as may be desired by the user. Preferably the bridge member 21 is provided at its rear face with a pair of spaced contact ribs 34) (see FIG. adapted to engage against the blade 26. By rotation of the button 60 the bridge member is rotated or caused to be moved bodily about an axis located at substantially the point 81 within the area of the spring 23. The arcuate portion 50 of the bridge member preferably has a uniform radius about the axis 81. As an illustration, in the full line position of the parts shown in FIG. 3, the guard or soap bar portion 51 has a shaving angle indicated at A. In accordance with standard practice the shaving angle is determined by a plane passed through the blade extending through the outer cutting edge and a line perpendicular to the blade edge and tangent to the surface of the guard 51. By rotation of the button 60 the bridge member may as an example be rotated clockwise to a position indicated in broken lines at 51' at which position the shaving angle is indicated at B in FIG. 3.

It will be noted that the lever arm from the axis 81 to the point of contact of the insert 70 with the cam 62 is considerably longer than the distance from the axis 81 to the guard portion 51, or more specifically the distance between the axis 81 and the tangent point on guard 51 of a line drawn from the blade edge defining the shaving angle. The ratio of the lever arms is in fact about 2 to 1 and could be made larger if desired. The construction enables larger tolerances in the manufacture and assembly of the parts. In other words any variation from the precise manufacturing specifications is reduced by the relation of the lever arm just described. Likewise fine adjustments of the shaving angle require substantial adjustment of the cam button. The foregoing is in contrast to prior known constructions wherein the arrangement is such that deviations from exact manufacturing specifications are magnified, and small adjustments of the cam means effect substantial changes in the shaving angle.

The button 6% and the back of the razor head 11 normally will be provided with suitable graduation lines and markings to indicate degrees of setting of the shaving angle or clearance.

The razor construction is such that it is adapted to receive a standard blade cartridge for injection and removal of blades. Such a cartridge is indicated in FIG. 6 at 85 the cartridge including a tongue portion 86 and a slide member 87. Further details are unnecessary, since cartridges of this type are well known and may be of the type shown in the patents to Butlin heretofore noted. FIG. 7 shows the cartridge applied to the razor head, the tongue portion 86 serving to compress or flatten the blade spring 29 as shown whereby the finger 33 is moved away from the back edge of the blade 26 releasing it for removal of a used blade and insertion of a new blade.

Since various changes may be made in the razor above described and shown in the drawings and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the principles thereof, it will be understood that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A safety razor having a head portion including a cap, and means for supporting a blade in the head against said cap; a bridge member mounted in the head having a guard part arranged adjacent the blade cutting edge, a portion engageable against the surface of the blade to urge the blade against the cap, and an arm portion extending away from the blade, said arm portion being provided with a cam contact part; an adjustable cam means operative on the said contact part; spring means and a support therefor, said spring means being arranged to press the said bridge portion against the blade and to urge said contact part into engagement with said cam means; said cam means being effective to vary the relation of said guard with respect to the blade cutting edge.

2. A safety razor having a head portion including a cap, and means for supporting a blade in the head against said cap; a bridge member mounted in the head having a guard part arranged adjacent the blade cutting edge, a portion engageable against the surface of the blade to urge the blade against the cap, and an arm portion extending away from the blade, said arm portion being provided with a cam contact part; an adjustable cam means operative on the said contact part; spring means located between said guard and said cam means and a support for the spring means, said spring means being arranged to press the said bridge portion against the blade and to urge said contact part into engagement with said cam means; said cam means being effective to move bodily said bridge member about an axis located at the spring means to vary the relation of said guard with respect to the blade cutting edge.

3. A safety razor having a head portion including a cap, and means for supporting a blade in the head against said cap; a bridge member mounted in the head having a guard part arranged adjacent the blade cutting edge, a portion engageable against the surface of the blade to urge the blade against the cap, and an arm portion extending away from the blade, said arm portion being provided with a cam contact part; an adjustable cam means operative on the said contact part; spring means and a support therefor positioned to cause said spring means to press the said bridge portion against the blade and to urge said contact part into engagement with said cam means; said cam means being effective to move bodily said bridge member about an axis located between said guard means and said cam means thereby to vary the relation of said guard with respect to the blade cutting edge.

4. A safety razor having a head portion including a cap, and means for supporting a blade in the head against said cap; a bridge member mounted in the head having a guard part arranged adjacent the blade cutting edge, a portion engageable against the surface of the blade to urge the blade against the cap, and an arm portion extending away from the blade, said arm portion being provided with a cam contact part; an adjustable cam means operative on the said contact part; spring means and a support therefor positioned to cause said spring means to press the said bridge portion against the blade and to urge said contact part into engagement with said cam means; said cam means being effective to move bodily said bridge,

member about an axis located between said guard means and said cam means thereby to vary the relation of said guard with respect to the blade cutting edge, the distance between said axis and the effective point on said arm of said cam means being greater than the distance between said axis and said guard part.

5, A safety razor having a head portion including a cap, and means for supporting a blade against the inner face of said cap; a bridge member mounted in the head having a guard part with an arc-shaped surface arranged adjacent the blade cutting edge, a portion engageable against the surface of the blade and an arm portion extending away from the blade, said arm portion being provided with a cam contact part; an adjustable cam means operative on the said contact part and effective to adjust said bridge and thereby said guard to vary the shave angle determined by the angle between the plane of the blade and a line drawn perpendicular to the blade edge and tangent to said arc-shaped surface; spring means and a support therefor, said spring means being arranged to press the said bridge portion against the blade and to urge said contact part into engagement With said cam means; said bridge being bodily movable about an axis located between said guard part and said cam means, the distance between the effective point of said cam means and said axis being greater than the distance between said axis and the point of contact of said tangent.

6. A safety razor having a handle and a head portion including a cap arranged at an oblique angle to the handle, and means for supporting a blade in the head against said cap; a bridge member mounted in the angle between said cap and handle having a first portion engageable against the surface of the blade to urge the blade against the cap with a guard part arranged adjacent the blade cutting edge, and an arm portion at an oblique angle to said first portion in the general direction of the handle, said arm portion being provided with a cam contact part; an adjustable cam means operative on the said contact part; spring means and a support therefor positioned Within the oblique angle of said bridge member, said spring means being arranged to press the said bridge portion against the blade and to urge said contact part into engagement with said cam means; said cam means being effective to vary the relation of said guard with respect to the blade cutting edge.

7. A safety razor having a handle and a head portion including a cap arranged at an oblique angle to the handle, and means for supporting a blade in the head against said cap; a bridge member mounted in the angle between said cap and handle having a first portion engageable against the surface of the blade to urge the blade against the cap With a guard part arranged adjacent the blade cutting edge, and an arm portion at an oblique angle to said first portion in the general direction of the handle, said arm portion being provided with a cam contact part; an

adjustable cam means operative on the said contact part; spring means and a support therefor positioned within the oblique angle of said bridge member, said spring means being arranged to press the said bridge portion against the blade and to urge said contact part into engagement with said cam means; said cam means being effective to move bodily the bridge member about an axis located Within said spring means to vary the relation of said guard with respect to the blade cutting edge.

8. A safety razor having a head portion including a cap, and means for supporting a blade in the head against said cap; a bridge member mounted in the head having a guard part arranged adjacent the blade cutting edge, a first portion engageable against the surface of the blade to urge the blade against the cap, and an arm portion extending away from the blade, said arm portion being provided with a cam contact part; an adjustable cam means operative on the said arm portion; a cover positioned over said contact part; and a spring means supported by said cover located between said bridge member and said cover and arranged to press the said bridge portion against the blade and to urge said contact part into engagement with said cam means; said cam means being effective to vary the relation of said guard with respect to the blade cutting edge.

9. A safety razor having a head portion including a cap, and means for supporting a blade in the head against said cap; a bridge member mounted in the head having a guard part arranged adjacent the blade cutting edge, a first portion engageable against the surface of the blade to urge the blade against the cap, and an arm portion extending away from the blade, said arm portion being provided with a cam contact part; an adjustable cam means operative on the said contact part; a cover positioned over said arm portion; and a spring means supported by said cover located between said bridge member and said cover, said spring means comprising a single continuous Wire element with a portion arranged to press the said bridge portion against the blade and another portion arranged to urge said contact part into engagement with said cam means; said cam means being elfective to vary the relation of said guard with respect to the blade cutting edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,060,243 Rodrigues et al Nov. 10, 1936 2,205,568 Kuhnl June 25, 1940 2,221,379 Hillard et al Nov. 12, 1940 2,281,980 Kuhnl May 5, 1942 2,661,533 Shnitzler Dec. 8, 1953 2,701,910 Butlin Feb. 15, 1955 2,799,926 Shaylor July 23, 1957 2,911,714 Preis et al Nov. 10, 1959 

1. A SAFETY RAZOR HAVING A HEAD PORTION INCLUDING A CAP, AND MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A BLADE IN THE HEAD AGAINST SAID CAP; A BRIDGE MEMBER MOUNTED IN THE HEAD HAVING A GUARD PART ARRANGED ADJACENT THE BLADE CUTTING EDGE, A PORTION ENGAGEABLE AGAINST THE SURFACE OF THE BLADE TO URGE THE BLADE AGAINST THE CAP, AND AN ARM PORTION EXTENDING AWAY FROM THE BLADE, SAID ARM PORTION BEING PROVIDED WITH A CAM CONTACT PART; AN ADJUSTABLE CAM MEANS OPERATIVE ON THE SAID CONTACT PART; SPRING MEANS AND A SUPPORT THEREFOR, SAID SPRING MEANS BEING ARRANGED TO PRESS THE SAID BRIDGE PORTION AGAINST THE BLADE AND TO URGE SAID CONTACT PART INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CAM MEANS; SAID CAM MEANS BEING EFFECTIVE TO VARY THE RELATION OF SAID GUARD WITH RESPECT TO THE BLADE CUTTING EDGE. 